#when they use things no apostle or follower of the apostles ever taught

[theexodvs]

My father and my mother were high school sweethearts. Whether by coincidence or because she followed him there, they ended up at the same university. After babysitting homeschooled children while they were dating and growing wary of the culture’s lies, she refused to marry my father unless he fully supported her decision to homeschool her future children. And he agreed.

They did mission work in Central America for a time, before deciding to come back to the US to raise and educate their children. Not long after having my brother, and possibly in my lifetime, my father became the object of a female coworker’s attention. She wished to travel in the same vehicle with him and sleep in the same hotel rooms, with constant flirty behavior. There were (and still are) no state laws for workplace sexual harassment where he had placed his family. However, since the trips in question would have brought them across state lines, he might have been able to lawyer up and sue her for “harassment” in federal court. But he didn’t. Instead, he showed her grace while putting up boundaries, and maintained a completely professional relation with her until she was transferred to a different department and never spoke with him again. Throughout all this, my mother remained the sole object of his affection. He did not have to resort to the nuclear option in order to prove his loyalty to her. This remains my model of both loyalty to one’s spouse and how to deal with colleagues who wish to lure the faithful into sin.

I was late for several milestones due to poisoning in the well water at our house. We do not know what metals caused this; mercury would have manifested differently and lead would have a more permanent effect. Whatever the case, I was misdiagnosed with a developmental delay, and due to the happy accident of Andrew Wakefield’s fraudulent study, I was put on the expensive therapy that is chelation. This would have been around the time my sister was born, and my brother was not even four years old, all in one of the poorest areas of the US. Dad had to pick up two jobs just to keep us afloat. Because he agreed to marry Mom under the condition that she homeschooled, her picking up a full-time job was out of the question. I have seen many men in similar situations have affairs or develop addictions. Dad did neither. He was irritable, and took it out on us maybe a few too many times, as he was never taught how to properly handle his anger. I would not, however, describe his behavior as abusive, and he has never once hit Mom. All things considered, he was under pressures far more immense than I can even conceptualize. He modeled loyalty to my mother, respect for the particulars of his marriage covenant, kindness to his family, and devotion to his calling during a period of great sanctification.

Eventually he found a job that would keep all five of us fed and allow him to pay off his remaining debts. Mom developed various spending and saving habits to make sure that we could survive if anything ever occurred to bring them back to a previous state. Various other female colleagues would make advances on him, but he spoke in a manner bordering on obsession about “the Mrs.” and how wonderful of a woman she actually was. They had arguments, some quite heated, but he took the words of Paul the Apostle seriously, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” He never promised not to get angry, or even to avoid an explosive temper, but when he realized the damage he had done, he worked to make things right with those whom he had wronged. He modeled regret, remorse, and justice.

Eventually, after all of us were grown, my dad “quit.” That is legally what happened, anyway. In reality, two people my mom unabashedly describes as sociopaths came to view Dad as an enemy, and backstabbed him. He decided to quit and take the stipend before they had time to mar his resume. I was a semester and some change from graduating and my brother was already completely moved out, but my sister was a few years away from completing her degree and my mom had not worked in almost twenty years. He spent a good five months looking for work, which put him in a panic, wondering how to feed and house Mom and put my sister through the rest of her time at school. He did and said some crazy things. At the end of it, he was able to relax after finding a job that was suitable for his needs. Though he was not stable during that time, his foremost concern was my mom and sister. This was the most recent major test of his quality as a husband and father, and he definitely proved himself worthy. It was fortunately a remote job, as he got it about three weeks after news stories hit of a virus spreading from Wuhan, China. He has kept the same job since, being able to eventually move himself and my mom back to their hometown, living out their lives as empty-nest gulfrats (self-described), and they would not be happier any other way.

Through his thirty-two years as a husband and twenty-seven as a father, Dad had some vices, but he modeled far more virtues. If I get married one day, I will ask his advice often, and already have in order to be the best prospective husband I could be in previous relationships. If I have children of my own, I will ask his advice often, and though my parenting style will not be the exact same, I will take what worked and apply it.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad.

#christian marriage #christian relationships #homeschool #homeschooling #father's day #fathers day #real talk #man talk #men talking to men

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

4th February >> Mass Readings (USA)

Saturday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time 

or

Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Saturday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time 

(Liturgical Colour: Green)

First Reading Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21 May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd, furnish you with all that is good.

Brothers and sisters: Through Jesus, let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.

Obey your leaders and defer to them, for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account, that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow, for that would be of no advantage to you. May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the Blood of the eternal covenant, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose. Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.

R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage.

R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Gospel Acclamation John 10:27

Alleluia, alleluia. My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mark 6:30-34 They were like sheep without a shepherd.

The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.��� People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

----------------------------

Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary   

(Liturgical Colour: White)

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

Either:

First Reading Genesis 3:9-15, 20 I will put enmity between your offspring and the offspring of the woman.

After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the LORD God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!” The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me– she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.” The LORD God then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.” Then the LORD God said to the serpent:

“Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; On your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.”

The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

OR: --------

First reading Genesis 12:1-7 The Lord spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever (Luke 1:55).

The LORD said to Abram: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.

”I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.”

Abram went as the LORD directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai, his brother’s son Lot, all the possessions that they had accumulated, and the persons they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land as far as the sacred place at Shechem, by the terebinth of Moreh. (The Canaanites were then in the land.) The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.

OR: --------

First reading 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-11, 16 The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father (Luke 1:32).

When King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!” Nathan answered the king, “Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.” But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said: “Go tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in?’ “‘It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.’”

OR: --------

First reading 1 Chronicles 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2 They brought in the ark of God and set it within the tent which David had pitched for it.

David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORD to the place which he had prepared for it. David also called together the sons of Aaron and the Levites. The Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, as Moses had ordained according to the word of the LORD. David commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brethren as chanters, to play on musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals to make a loud sound of rejoicing. They brought in the ark of God and set it within the tent which David had pitched for it. Then they offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings to God. When David had finished offering up the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

OR: --------

First reading Proverbs 8:22-31 Mary, seat of Wisdom.

The Wisdom of God says:

“The LORD begot me, the first-born of his ways, the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago; From of old I was poured forth, at the first, before the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains or springs of water; Before the mountains were settled into place, before the hills, I was brought forth; While as yet the earth and fields were not made, nor the first clods of the world.

“When he established the heavens I was there, when he marked out the vault over the face of the deep; When he made firm the skies above, when he fixed fast the foundations of the earth; When he set for the sea its limit, so that the waters should not transgress his command; Then was I beside him as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, Playing before him all the while, playing on the surface of his earth; and I found delight in the sons of men.”

OR: --------

First reading Sirach 24:1-2, 3-4, 8-12, 18-21 Mary, seat of Wisdom.

Wisdom sings her own praises and is honored in God, before her own people she proclaims her glory; In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth, in the presence of his power she declares her worth.

“From the mouth of the Most High I came forth the first-born before all creatures. I made that in the heavens there should arise light that never fades and mistlike covered the earth. In the highest heavens did I dwell, my throne on a pillar of cloud.

“Then the Creator of all gave me his command, and he who formed me chose the spot for my tent, Saying, ‘In Jacob make your dwelling, in Israel your inheritance and among my chosen put down your roots.’ Before all ages, in the beginning, he created me, and through all ages I shall not cease to be. In the holy tent I ministered before him, and in Zion I fixed my abode. Thus in the chosen city he has given me rest, in Jerusalem is my domain. I have struck root among the glorious people, in the portion of the LORD, his heritage and in the company of the holy ones do I linger.

“Come to me, all you that yearn for me, and be filled with my fruits; You will remember me as sweeter than honey, better to have than the honeycomb my memory is unto everlasting generations. Whoever eats of me will hunger still, whoever drinks of me will thirst for more; Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame, whoever serves me will never fail.”

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10 The virgin shall conceive and bear a son.

The LORD spoke to Ahaz: Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!” Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary people, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel which means “God is with us.”

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 9:1-6 A son is given us.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, As they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, And the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames.

For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, From David’s throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains By judgment and justice, both now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!

OR: --------

First reading Isaiah 61:9-11 I rejoice heartily in the Lord.

Thus says the LORD:

Their descendants shall be renowned among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; All who see them shall acknowledge them as a race the LORD has blessed.

I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul; For he has clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, Like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, So will the Lord GOD make justice and praise spring up before all the nations.

OR: --------

First reading Micah 5:1-4a Until the time when she who is to give birth has borne.

The LORD says:

You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, From you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; Whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. (Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, And the rest of his brethren shall return to the children of Israel.) He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD, his God; And they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth; he shall be peace.

OR: --------

First reading Zechariah 2:14-17 Rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming.

Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD. Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and they shall be his people, and he will dwell among you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. The LORD will possess Judah as his portion in the holy land, and he will again choose Jerusalem. Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the LORD! for he stirs forth from his holy dwelling.

EITHER: --------

Responsorial Psalm 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“My heart exults in the LORD, my horn is exalted in my God. I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in my victory.”

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“The bows of the mighty are broken, while the tottering gird on strength. The well-fed hire themselves out for bread, while the hungry batten on spoil. The barren wife bears seven sons, while the mother of many languishes.”

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“The LORD puts to death and gives life; he casts down to the nether world; he raises up again. The LORD makes poor and makes rich, he humbles, he also exalts.”

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“He raises the needy from the dust; from the dung heap he lifts up the poor, To seat them with nobles and make a glorious throne their heritage.”

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Judith 13:18bcde, 19

You are the highest honor of our race.

“Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God, above all the women on earth; and blessed be the LORD God, the creator of heaven and earth.”

You are the highest honor of our race.

“Your deed of hope will never be forgotten by those who tell of the might of God.”

You are the highest honor of our race.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17

Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father’s house. So shall the king desire your beauty; for he is your lord, and you must worship him.

Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

All glorious is the king’s daughter as she enters; her raiment is threaded with spun gold. In embroidered apparel she is borne in to the king; behind her the virgins of her train are brought to you.

Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

They are borne in with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the king. The place of your fathers your sons shall have; you shall make them princes through all the land.

Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 113:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7

Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever. or Alleluia.

Praise, you servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forever.

Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever. or Alleluia.

From the rising to the setting of the sun is the name of the LORD to be praised. High above all nations is the LORD; above the heavens is his glory.

Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever. or Alleluia.

Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?

Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever. or Alleluia.

He raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill he lifts up the poor To seat them with princes, with the princes of his own people.

Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever. or Alleluia.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Luke 1:46-47, 48-49, 50-51, 52-53, 54-55

The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. or O Blessed Virgin Mary, you carried the Son of the eternal Father.

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. or O Blessed Virgin Mary, you carried the Son of the eternal Father.

“For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name.”

The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. or O Blessed Virgin Mary, you carried the Son of the eternal Father.

“He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.”

The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. or O Blessed Virgin Mary, you carried the Son of the eternal Father.

“He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.”

The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. or O Blessed Virgin Mary, you carried the Son of the eternal Father.

“He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.”

The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. or O Blessed Virgin Mary, you carried the Son of the eternal Father.

Gospel Acclamation see Luke 1:28

Alleluia, alleluia. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: see Luke 1:45

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: see Luke 2:19

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed is the Virgin Mary who kept the word of God and pondered it in her heart. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: Luke 11:28

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or:

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise; from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or:

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary; without dying you won the martyr’s crown beneath the Cross of the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.

EITHER: --------

Gospel Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23 For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile. After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,

which means “God is with us.”

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 1:18-23 For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,

which means “God is with us.”

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt.

When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son. When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, He shall be called a Nazorean.

OR: --------

Gospel Matthew 12:46-50 Stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, here are my mother and my brothers.

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 1:26-38 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son.

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 1:39-47 Blessed is she who believed.

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 2:1-14 She gave birth to her firstborn son.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 2:15b-19 Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

The shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 2:27-35 You yourself a sword will pierce.

Simeon came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled; my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people: a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 2:41-52 Your father and I have been looking for you.

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 11:27-28 Blessed is the womb that carried you.

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

OR: --------

Gospel John 2:1-11 The mother of Jesus was there.

There was a wedding in Cana at Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from although the servers who had drawn the water knew, the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

Or:

Gospel John 19:25-27 Behold, your son. Behold, your mother.

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[360degreesofseparation-blog]

Love the things God loves; hate the things God hates.

Living for Jesus Christ isn’t having sex with a stranger on Mondays, cursing up a storm during traffic on Thursdays, nor is it getting wasted on Saturdays, and then praising and worshipping Jesus on Sunday mornings. “Living for Jesus is to deny your flesh” is much easier said than done. 

“That’s the LAST TIME that will ever happen!”

“Oh my gosh I can’t believe I just did that when I know right from wrong”

Do you love Jesus with ALL of your heart and soul, but STILL go back to that same sin? And every time that you commit that sin willingly, it STRIKES your spirit and soul? Does the Holy Spirit convict you? Do you feel gross? ashamed? unworthy? Does it create an anger that accumulates? Like a steam pot ready to explode?

If we read Romans 7:14 - 25, it is a very, very powerful message from the Apostle Paul. He speaks about doing the things he does not want to do, and he does not understand it. He wants to do the good, but instead does the things he does NOT want to do because of the sin living inside him. He understands that there is an inner turmoil - a confliction inside of him of two opposing forces.   

In the last line of the chapter, Paul tells us that in his mind, he is a slave to God’s law, but in his sinful nature, he is a slave to the law of sin. 

Followers of Jesus Christ can understand that, for when we were born, we were sinful by nature, but when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit dwells inside of us.

Internally, you tell yourself that you hate sin and you feel it. But there’s going to be a point in your life where the last time will truly be the last time. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Every time we fall back to that same old sin, you feel like you’re back in the paws of the devil, and it’s gotten you powerless. That is why we must ALWAYS repent for our sins - DAILY. We must ALWAYS remind ourselves that God LOVES us through our sin, and His mercies are new EVERY DAY. That is not a pass for us to continue sinning, and I will get to my point. That disgust and filth that we feel when we sin will accumulate and there are two options that followers of Jesus Christ are given - to continue wading in that filth and grime, or to get to the point of truly HATING that sin. We’re taught to not hate, but love. But Paul tells us to HATE what is evil, and to cling onto what is good. And we know that everything good is from God. And we know that God HATES sin. We must also get to that point in our journey to truly HATE sin, and to internalize it, vocalize it, and live hating sin. 

We must ALWAYS know that we are SAVED by GRACE through FAITH. And know that the LORD’s faithfulness, love, grace is infinite. NOTHING that we do or will ever do can ever save us. We are not good, but we are made righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ.

#christianity #sin #JesusChrist #JesusisLord #Godisgood #HolyBible #Godlovesyou

[exmotapir]

One aspect of my spiritual life that I struggle with is in expressing belief. This is because in Mormonism belief is expressed in terms of knowledge, not in terms of belief. For instance, a moon who wanted to express the belief that Jesus Christ lives would not say "I believe that Jesus lives." They would say "I know that Jesus lives." This is taught as tbe way one should bear testimony to another person from a very young age. Culturally, or perhaps sociologically, the purpose of having your followers express belief in terms of certainty is, I think, two fold. First there is a strong element of "Fake it till you make it." I remember once when I was an LDS missionary someone in tbe Missionary Training Center asked a visiting apostle something to the effect of "What do I do if I am not entirely sure that what I testify is really true?" In retrospect this was a pretty courageous question to ask an apostle. But tbe Apostle said something like: "Bear testimony anyway. Bear testimony as if you did know. Because as you bear testimony, your testimony of the thing will grow."

The other reason I think Mormons bear testimony in this way is because it adds an element of accountability to your testimony. You've just told a person or group of people that you know a thing to be true. Are you going to go back upon what you have said to your peers? Probably not.

So how does this effect my ability to express belief? Because what do I, a brand new pagan and witch-curious person really know? The answer is... Nothing. I really do not know anything about this knew spiritual world I am exploring. I do not even know if the things I believe are real. And honestly I don't think I will ever know.

However, this is only a problem because of the years I spent as an Atheist. Those years taught me the importance of empirical evidence, and during that time I was under the opinion that a thing was not likely to be real unless it could be measured and empirically known.

Now, don't misunderstand. Science is very important. It's the best method we have to understand the world around us from the large scale to the small. However there are things Science and empirical evidence cannot really touch... Things that we know are real but cannot be measured. These are things like thoughts and emotions. You cannot measure love save for perhaps quantifying the biological markers that the brain interprets as love. But even though love cannot be measured in an empirical sense, we do not doubt the existence of the emotion we call love.

I'm close to a disorganized rant now, but my point is that I have started to believe that there is more to the universe than can be known empirically.

Thus I say, even though I do not know, that I believe that there is a spiritual world. I believe that life is sacred, that nature and the universe are sacred. I believe that Þór, Oðin, and Freyja have been passive guides to me in my life. I believe that Cernunnos may have tried reaching out to me. I believe that witchcraft and ritual devotion can have an effect on an individual's life.

What I know, is that these beliefs and realizations have made me happy... Happy and scared to death. Happy because they have improved my self-esteem and self-worth. Scared to death because it means my view of the universe is about to change drastically.

#pagan #baby witch #witches of tumblr #ExMo #Belief

[childofchrist1983]

And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. - Luke 13:22-29 KJV

Have you ever heard someone say, or perhaps thought to yourself "Look at him/her, I can't believe the way he's/she's acting! He/She goes to church every Sunday?" Perhaps it's someone at work, or at school, or in the neighborhood, or even in your family. "What a hypocrite!", you might say, and it's possible that that person doesn't have a clue – much like the Pharisees.

In today's Bible passage, the Apostles are being condemned for eating without washing their hands. Now, we don't know the circumstances, but I would bet that many of us do the same thing even though we know that we should wash our hands before eating. However, if I want an ice cream on a hot day, I'm not going to ask the kid at the ice cream stand where to find a bathroom so that I can first wash my hands.

But for observant Jews, to wash before eating was one of the many, many Mosaic laws. Jesus Christ points out for them, that some laws are more important than others – like being honest, refraining from envy, not stealing...In other words, keeping the Ten Commandments. If we apply this message to today, we can ask ourselves if we are faithful to the Law of Love that Jesus has given us, or if we just give it lip service. Unless we refrain from lying, cheating, gossiping, stealing, greediness, passing judgment on others, and so many other traps the world holds out for us, are we any better than those we might criticize?

We come to listen to God's Word, not so that we can pat ourselves on the back for keeping the Commandments, but to learn how to better follow Jesus in our daily lives. It would be well for us to take to heart the response to today's psalm, "One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord", and the words of St. James, "Be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves."

May we choose to do God’s will and follow His ways. May He help us to be doers of His Holy Word, not just hearers of it. May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time daily to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Word daily, May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful Lord, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in the Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

[lennart11412]

Matthew 6:13

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

13. And lead us not into temptation—He who honestly seeks and has the assurance of, forgiveness for past sin, will strive to avoid committing it for the future. But conscious that "when we would do good evil is present with us," we are taught to offer this sixth petition, which comes naturally close upon the preceding, and flows, indeed, instinctively from it in the hearts of all earnest Christians. There is some difficulty in the form of the petition, as it is certain that God does bring His people—as He did Abraham, and Christ Himself—into circumstances both fitted and designed to try them, or test the strength of their faith. Some meet this by regarding the petition as simply an humble expression of self-distrust and instinctive shrinking from danger; but this seems too weak. Others take it as a prayer against yielding to temptation, and so equivalent to a prayer for support and deliverance when we are tempted; but this seems to go beyond the precise thing intended. We incline to take it as a prayer against being drawn or sucked, of our own will, into temptation, to which the word here used seems to lend some countenance—"Introduce us not." This view, while it does not put into our mouths a prayer against being tempted—which is more than the divine procedure would seem to warrant—does not, on the other hand, change the sense of the petition into one for support under temptation, which the words will hardly bear; but it gives us a subject for prayer, in regard to temptation, most definite, and of all others most needful. It was precisely this which Peter needed to ask, but did not ask, when—of his own accord, and in spite of difficulties—he pressed for entrance into the palace hall of the high priest, and where, once sucked into the scene and atmosphere of temptation, he fell so foully. And if so, does it not seem pretty clear that this was exactly what our Lord meant His disciples to pray against when He said in the garden—"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation"? (Mt 26:41).

Seventh Petition:

But deliver us from evil—We can see no good reason for regarding this as but the second half of the sixth petition. With far better ground might the second and third petitions be regarded as one. The "but" connecting the two petitions is an insufficient reason for regarding them as one, though enough to show that the one thought naturally follows close upon the other. As the expression "from evil" may be equally well rendered "from the evil one," a number or superior critics think the devil is intended, especially from its following close upon the subject of "temptation." But the comprehensive character of these brief petitions, and the place which this one occupies, as that on which all our desires die away, seems to us against so contracted a view of it. Nor can there be a reasonable doubt that the apostle, in some of the last sentences which he penned before he was brought forth to suffer for his Lord, alludes to this very petition in the language of calm assurance—"And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work (compare the Greek of the two passages), and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom" (2Ti 4:18). The final petition, then, is only rightly grasped when regarded as a prayer for deliverance from all evil of whatever kind—not only from sin, but from all its consequences—fully and finally. Fitly, then, are our prayers ended with this. For what can we desire which this does not carry with it?

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen—If any reliance is to be placed on external evidence, this doxology, we think, can hardly be considered part of the original text. It is wanting in all the most ancient manuscripts; it is wanting in the Old Latin version and in the Vulgate: the former mounting up to about the middle of the second century, and the latter being a revision of it in the fourth century by Jerome, a most reverential and conservative as well as able and impartial critic. As might be expected from this, it is passed by in silence by the earliest Latin fathers; but even the Greek commentators, when expounding this prayer, pass by the doxology. On the other hand, it is found in a majority of manuscripts, though not the oldest; it is found in all the Syriac versions, even the Peschito—dating probably as early as the second century—although this version lacks the "Amen," which the doxology, if genuine, could hardly have wanted; it is found in the Sahidic or Thebaic version made for the Christians of Upper Egypt, possibly as early as the Old Latin; and it is found in perhaps most of the later versions. On a review of the evidence, the strong probability, we think, is that it was no part of the original text.

Matthew 6 Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary (biblehub.com)

[exexcatholic]

The Truth About Catholicism

(1) Only the Catholic Church can trace its roots back to Christ Himself.

Within a few short years of the Resurrection, the followers of Jesus began calling themselves “Christians” (cf. Acts 11: 26), and by the end of the first century, the word “catholic”—meaning “universal” —was applied to the Church. The idea of different (and sometimes competing) Christian denominations would have been unthinkable to the early Christians, especially in light of Christ’s pronouncement on one shepherd and one flock (John 10:15) and his prayer that his disciples remain one (John 17:22). It was only human weakness and sinfulness that brought about the religious divisions that afflict Christianity today. The Orthodox church drew apart from Rome off and on over several hundred years, finally separating in the fifteenth century, and the various Protestant denominations date back no earlier than the sixteenth century. These churches can trace their roots back to Christ only through the Catholic Church. To put the matter rather bluntly: Why should anyone settle for an imitation when the original is available—especially when it comes to knowing and living the truths necessary for salvation?

(2) The Eucharist—the Real Presence of Christ—is not found in Protestant churches.

Jesus described himself as the bread of life, stating that whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood will have life eternal (John 6:54). At the Last Supper he gave the apostles and their successors, the bishops (and through them, validly ordained priests), the power and authority to continue his sacrifice when he said, “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19). The Catholic Church has been obeying Christ’s command for almost two thousand years, and whereas many Christian denominations see the Eucharist mainly in symbolic terms, the Church has consistently taught that it is truly the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ. Moreover, only Catholic and non-Catholic Eastern priests—because of their ordinations—have the sacramental power to consecrate the Eucharist. (Anglican or Episcopalian priests sometimes claim to possess this power, but Pope Leo XIII, after carefully examining this issue some one hundred years ago, concluded that the link of apostolic succession had not been preserved by the Church of England.)

Catholics are privileged to be able to receive the treasure beyond all price—Jesus himself—each time they attend Mass. It may be true that many Protestant and Evangelical congregations at times seem to offer a greater sense of fellowship and community, more dynamic preaching, and various activities and programs than the average Catholic parish. These things are all valuable and praiseworthy—but for a Catholic to give them a higher priority than the Eucharist is akin to Esau selling his birthright for a mess of pottage (cf. Gen. 25:29–34). If we truly understood what a wondrous gift the Eucharist is, none of us would even consider ever leaving the Church, and our example would attract many other persons to Catholicism.

(3) Unlike other Christians, Catholics have a fully sacramental understanding of God’s saving activity.

The word “sacramental” is here used in three different senses. First we have the incarnational sense, which means that God can be known and experienced in and through what he has created. Catholicism has always remembered that God looked upon his creation and pronounced it “good” (cf. Gen. 1:31). So instead of being suspicious of human activity and the material world, the Church has often encouraged people to develop and use their abilities and to do all things for the greater glory of God. It’s no surprise that some of humanity’s greatest art, architecture, and music has been commissioned and preserved by the Church.

The second sense of “sacramental” (used here as an adjective) refers to the Eucharist and the other six sacraments, which are visible signs and sources of God’s grace active in the world. God, as our Creator, is fully aware of our human limitations. Because human beings are both body and spirit, the Lord relates to us not only in an invisible, spiritual way but also through the use of human gestures and material items we can see and hear and touch and taste: bread, wine, water, oil, words, and so forth. Most Christians agree on the essential requirement of water for baptism, but Protestants are not consistent in treating as sacraments the other sacred actions Jesus gave to the Church.

Thirdly, the noun “sacramental” refers to a blessed item or gesture that, for those who have faith, can be an experience or source of God’s grace. Sacramentals of this sort include holy water, scapulars, crucifixes, medals, rosaries, ashes on Ash Wednesday, the Sign of the Cross, and so on. Sacraments, by God’s promise and power, are effective in and of themselves, whereas sacramentals depend on the disposition of the believer. Though much less important than sacraments, sacramentals can be a valuable source of grace and spiritual favor.

If Jesus was willing to humble himself by becoming human (Phil. 2:6–7), it’s logical to assume God would continue working in and through human beings and the material order he himself created. Catholicism, with its sacramental emphasis, has carried this truth through to its logical conclusion.

(4) Because of the Church’s magisterium, Catholics have the assurance that their beliefs are divinely revealed truths, not human interpretations and opinions.

Other than questioning the apostles on what they and other people believed regarding his identity (cf. Mark 8:27–29), Jesus never conducted a vote or an opinion poll, or said to his followers, “This is what I personally think, but you decide for yourselves what to believe.” Rather, he came to proclaim God’s truth (John 18:37), and he entrusted this same teaching authority, or magisterium, to his Church (Luke 10:16). It is illogical to believe that Jesus, the eternal Word of God, would go to the trouble of becoming human, establishing the Church, and dying on the cross to save us from our sins, without providing a guarantee that the Church would continue to preserve and proclaim his teachings faithfully. Jesus followed his own advice by building his Church on the solid foundation of fidelity and truth (Matt. 7:24–25) and on the rock of Peter’s faith (Matt. 16:18–19). Not only does this divinely given teaching authority assure the Church’s pronouncements on faith and morals will be free of error, it also serves as a source and measure of unity. This is something all Protestant denominations lack, and the results are a matter of historical record. Once Luther and his colleagues established the precedent of protesting and rejecting the Church’s teaching authority, there was nothing to prevent later protests against their own self-proclaimed authority. The process of continually reinterpreting Scripture has reached the point where now, according to Oxford’s World Christian Encyclopedia, there are well over 20,000 Protestant denominations with their own—often contradictory—interpretations of the Gospel, each claiming to possess the true understanding of divine revelation.

(5) The Catholic Church, more than any other, gives fitting honor to the Mother of God.

A story about a small town’s efforts to create an ecumenical outdoor nativity scene illustrates this point. A Protestant minister said to the local Catholic priest, “We can include all the characters mentioned in the Bible, except we should leave Mary out. Otherwise, the scene will appear to be too Catholic.” The priest responded, “I’ll agree to that—on the condition that you explain to everyone how the infant Jesus was born without a mother.”

Catholics are indeed known for the honor they give to the Virgin Mary, and she plays an irreplaceable role in God’s plan of salvation. It is only right that we honor her (not worship her), for one of the Commandments says, “Honor your father and mother” (Ex. 20:12). If God wants us to honor our parents, how much more must he desire us to honor his Mother. The angel Gabriel declared Mary to be “full of grace” (Luke 1:28), making her worthy of our highest respect. Moreover, Mary herself stated that “all ages will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). The Catholic Church is virtually unique in obeying and fulfilling this scriptural prophecy.

(6) More than any other Christian religion, Catholicism takes Scripture seriously.

This assertion will surprise those who assume that Catholics are ignorant of Scripture and that the Protestant belief in sola scriptura (accepting “the Bible only” as a source of religious teaching) makes them the only true “Bible Christians.” However, history and logic are again on the side of the Catholic Church. It was the Church that, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, created the Bible as we know it (compiling the books of the Old Testament, and willing the books of the New Testament). And it was the Church that decided which of the many early Christian writings were canonical, or worthy of acceptance as scriptural. (Ironically, Protestant Bibles contain the same twenty-seven New Testament books as Catholics Bibles—a list decided upon by the Council of Rome in 382. Thus, the Protestant New Testament ultimately rests upon the authority of the Catholic Church.)

Moreover, none of the teachings of Catholicism contradict Scripture, and the Bible—at least implicitly but normally explicitly—supports all of the Church’s doctrines. Protestants reject many Catholic beliefs, but in doing so they must ignore or reinterpret what Scripture clearly says. For instance, the widespread Protestant understanding that the Eucharist is merely symbolic flatly contradicts our Lord’s words in John 6 (“My flesh is true food and My blood is true drink”) and also the accounts of the Last Supper (“This is my Body . . . this is my Blood” [Mark 14:22–24]). Rejecting the authority of the pope is also a rejection of Christ’s words to Peter, by which he gave him the keys to the kingdom of heaven and the authority to bind and loose (Matt. 16:18–19).

To deny the reality of the forgiveness of sins through confession, or the sacrament of reconciliation, is also a denial of the words of the resurrected Jesus to the apostles (John 20:22–23), in which he gave them the power to forgive sins in his name. Disbelief in the teaching authority of the Church is also disbelief in our Lord’s command to teach and baptize all nations, and in his promise to remain with the Church always (Matt. 28:19–20). A further weakness of the Protestant position lies in the idea of sola scriptura itself. Nowhere does the Bible say that Scripture alone is the only source of divine revelation, but there are numerous references to Tradition and the teaching authority of the Church (Matt. 18:15–18; John 14:16, 14:25–26, 21:25; 1 Cor. 11:21; Eph. 3:10–11; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Tim. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:16). Many Protestants are very good at quoting the Bible, but, in terms of its entire message, it is the Catholic Church that lives by it.

(7) The Church has survived and even thrived for almost two thousand years, in spite of every form of persecution, opposition, and difficulty.

Jesus promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church (Matt. 16:18), and history records many examples of Satan’s vicious but unsuccessful assaults on the Body of Christ. The Church has withstood numerous heresies and schisms, along with fierce persecutions stretching from the days of Nero and Diocletian down to our own bloody twentieth century. Catholicism has weathered false prophets and antipopes, wars, civil disturbances, plagues, natural disasters, barbarian invasions, and societal collapse. The Body of Christ, though often wounded, has renewed itself after the attacks of Rationalism and the Enlightenment, the political intrigues of kings and princes, the brute force of mobs and dictators, the meddling of emperors, and even the disastrous rule of sinful or incompetent popes and bishops. No less a persecutor of the Church than Napoleon Bonaparte noted, “The nations of the earth pass away, and thrones fall to the ground; the Church alone remains.”

The only parallel in history is that of the Jewish people—a people often singled out for persecution, scorned, oppressed, and exiled, yet miraculously preserved over thousands of years. Because the Jews are God’s chosen people, divine providence has worked in powerful ways in their behalf. Only this fact explains their miraculous ongoing existence. As the “new Israel” (cf. Rom. 11:17), the Church is also the beneficiary of God’s constant guidance and protection and will remain so until the end of time.

The four marks of the true Church are that it is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. I would humbly and unofficially suggest a “fifth” mark: the true Church is also opposed. Just as Jesus was a sign of contradiction and a stumbling block (1 Cor. 1:23), so his Church is a lightning rod for hatred, calumny, misunderstanding, suspicion, and opposition. Christ told his followers to expect the world’s enmity, since they were not of the world (John 15:18–19), and he warned them that some people would even claim to serve God by persecuting them (John 16:2). A present-day example of this is those Fundamentalists who attack the Church by identifying it as the “whore of Babylon.”

As the great bishop and martyr Ignatius of Antioch noted, “Christianity shows its greatness when it is hated by the world.” Anti-Catholicism has arguably had a stronger role in human history than any other prejudice save anti-Semitism, even in the United States. Catholics have suffered discrimination as immigrants along the Eastern seaboard; Catholics have been isolated and unwelcome in the Bible Belt and have been victims of the “No Nothing” movement and other organized opposition to the Church, including the Ku Klux Klan; and today certain political and social movements—such as the proponents of abortion—often appeal to anti-Catholic sentiments.

This is not to deny the historical fact that Catholics have themselves been guilty of grave sins against charity but to point out that the Church—precisely when it follows its Master most faithfully—is subject to some of the same hatred he encountered. Satan, possessing a cunning and intelligence far beyond human reason, sees his true enemy very clearly. His unrelenting attacks against the Church are a powerful indication of its vital importance in human history.

(8) Of all Christian religions, Catholicism has the most accurate and complete understanding of human nature.

This truth pertains to three areas in particular: reconciliation, ritual, and role models.

Reconciliation here refers to the fact that we are sinners in need of redemption, and that this process is an ongoing one. It is not enough to ask, as many Evangelical Protestants do, “Have you been saved?” This suggests that if we’ve been “born again,” and have “accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior,” salvation is guaranteed, and little if anything further is required of us. Such an understanding not only contradicts Scripture, which speaks of the possibility of losing one’s salvation (cf. 1 Cor. 9:27; Phil.2:12–13, 3:10–12), but also human nature. We are imperfect human beings, never completely free of sin. As Scripture says, even the just man falls seven times a day (Prov. 24:16). We are constantly in need of forgiveness, and this is why Jesus established as a sacrament not only baptism, but also reconciliation. Other important spiritual practices promoted by the Catholic Church—prayer, fasting, devotions to the saints, acts of penance, and so on—are designed to aid us in our ongoing efforts to grow in holiness and to cooperate with divine grace in overcoming our faults.

Ritual refers to human customs and behaviors designed to facilitate social interactions and celebrations. These rituals include such everyday actions as shaking hands, saying “God bless you” when someone sneezes, and blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. Examples of Catholic rituals include blessing oneself with holy water, genuflecting before the tabernacle, and making the Sign of the Cross. Calvin and other Reformers were determined to “purify” their churches of everything they considered human traditions and accretions to the Gospel. They radically simplified worship and church architecture. But sociologists have come to realize that ritual is an inherent part of human culture and an important part of human life and social interaction. A society’s “rites of passage”—in which young people are given the chance to demonstrate their maturity and be accepted as adults—are just one example of this. Even most non-Christian religions recognize and respond to this basic human need. Catholicism—unlike many Protestant denominations—has never ceased doing so.

Role models are also a fundamental human need. Human beings are social by nature, and much personal growth and development results from imitating, consciously or otherwise, certain influential persons. The Catholic Church offers the saints as models worthy of imitation. The cult of the saints began when early Christians celebrated the anniversaries of martyrs’ dates of death as their “birthday” into eternal life. Local custom, and eventually official policy, gradually recognized and celebrated still other holy men and women as heroic examples of righteousness. Saints are not worshiped, but they are esteemed and honored, for they are part of the “great cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12:1) whose lives testify to the truth of the Gospel and inspire those Christians still on earth to persevere in taking up their cross each day. Human beings, especially young people, require role models, and in opposition to self-centered movie stars, overpaid athletes, or promoters of cultural degeneration and violence the Church presents as examples those men, women, and children who can truly show us the way to eternal life and happiness.

(9) Catholicism reflects the nature of heaven more accurately than any other religion.

This can be seen in three different ways. First of all, the Church has a hierarchical structure; so does heaven. There are nine different choirs of angels, each with a different function and rank. Also, while all the persons in God’s kingdom are saints, some are even greater in holiness than others. The Virgin Mary, of course, is the most perfect illustration of this. Moreover, our Lord’s words about the least in the kingdom of heaven being greater than John the Baptist during his earthly life (Matt. 11:11) suggests that some of the saints are indeed ranked higher. At the same time, all are equal in the sense of fully sharing in the Beatific Vision (the joyous, all-encompassing contemplation of God) and in being perfectly happy.

Second, the Church is universal. More than any other religion, Catholicism is to be found in virtually every nation and culture, with members from every background and social status (as noted earlier, the word “catholic” means “universal”). Catholicism’s missionary outreach has covered the entire earth. In this, the Church imitates heaven, whose citizenship consists of “a great multitude, which no one could count, of every nation, race, people, and tongue” (Rev. 7:9).

A third characteristic of the Church that reflects the kingdom of God is that, in both cases, all the members are united as one while preserving their individuality. Each resident of heaven is completely absorbed in the contemplation of God, perfectly united with all the angels and saints in worshiping and praising the divine Majesty, while at the same time more fully alive and unique than ever before. In a mystical way, the Church’s worship on earth—most particularly, the Mass—shares in this ongoing heavenly liturgy. Furthermore, Catholicism has one central form of worship (the Mass and the sacraments) yet provides many different religious devotions, spiritualities, religious orders, and other opportunities to serve for those who are called to such a vocation. In this context, “one size” most definitely does not fit all, and Catholicism recognizes this truth even as it provides a sense of unity and purpose linking this world and the next.

(10) Because it is rooted in, but also transcends, time and history, the Church is able to help its members discover and live by God’s unchanging truth.

Other Christian religions have made significant changes in their moral and religious teachings—for example, ending their prohibition of artificial contraception. (Luther and the other Reformers echoed the Catholic teaching that birth control is gravely sinful, and this remained the Protestant position for 400 years. In 1930, the Anglican Church allowed certain “exceptions,” setting in motion a process in which all Protestant denominations have come to regard contraception as morally acceptable. The Catholic Church, in contrast, has maintained its teaching on this issue for almost two thousand years.) Catholicism is well suited to be “behind the times” and counter-cultural. This is an important sign of its authenticity, for objective truth is often unpopular or considered irrelevant or outdated—and yet the genuine Church of Christ must proclaim it nonetheless. Moreover, the Church—because of its international presence and prestige—is a powerful political force in its own right, as demonstrated by Pope John Paul II’s role in the collapse of the Soviet empire and the liberation of Eastern Europe. Church officials are often able to work behind the scenes in mediating conflicts and defending the rights of the oppressed while remaining true to the Church’s otherworldly mission. Jesus prayed that his disciples would be consecrated in truth, for they are in this world, but not of the world (John 17:11–18). Through the Catholic Church, his prayer has been and continues to be fulfilled.

These, then, are ten important reasons not to settle merely for being Christian, but to seek the fullness of God’s revelation through the Catholic Church, the only true Church of Christ. These reasons do not imply that Catholics as individuals are perfect or sinless, or that they have always followed the teachings and spirit of our Lord. No, the Church freely admits the sinful and unchristian behavior of many of its leaders and members throughout history.

Neither are the ten reasons listed above a denial of the importance of working closely with our Protestant brothers and sisters, or of the truth that we have many important lessons to learn from them, especially in the areas of preaching and a personal commitment to evangelization. Members of the Church are sinful and holy, earthly and heavenly, and imperfect and incomplete—yet undergoing the process of sanctification. This process is one that must include each individual Catholic and one in which all other people must be invited to share.

Like the soldier in the story at the beginning of this article, it seems that many Catholics have gotten used to “sleeping in” and not taking their faith seriously. Now, however, the “Chaplain” has appeared, and he is calling each one of us personally. It is our duty not only to belong to and believe in the Church but to defend and promote it. As Jesus noted, much is expected of those to whom much is given (Luke 12:48). We as Catholics can alone rightly claim to have the fullness of God’s revelation and guidance. This is reason for us to rejoice and to renew our commitment to living and sharing the Gospel.

Source: Christian Yes but Why be Catholic? (Catholic Answers article) by Fr. Joseph Esper

#catholic #religion

[yhwhrulz]

Morning and Evening with A.W. Tozer Devotional for April 28

Tozer in the Morning Christmas Breezes

For those nations of the earth which have known the story of Jesus, Christmas is undoubtedly the most beautiful time of the year.

Though the celebration of the Savior's birth occurs in the dead of winter, when in many parts of the world the streams are frozen and the landscapes cold and cheerless, still there is beauty at the Christmas season--not the tender beauty of spring flowers or the quiet loveliness of the full-blown summer, or yet the sad sweet graces of autumn colors. It is beauty of another kind, richer, deeper and more elevating, that beauty which considerations of love and mercy bring before the mind.

Though we are keenly aware of the abuses that have grown up around the holiday season, we are still not willing to surrender this ancient and loved Christmas Day to the enemy. Though those purer emotions which everyone feels at Christmas are in most hearts all too fleeting, yet it is something that a lost and fallen race should pay tribute, if only for a day, to those higher qualities of the mind--love and mercy and sacrifice and a life laid down for its enemies. While men are able to rise even temporarily to such heights, there is hope that they have not yet sinned away their day of grace. A heart capable of admiring and being touched by the story of the manger birth is not yet abandoned, however sinful it may be. There is yet hope in repentance.

Tozer in the Evening Worshipful Thinking

Man is a worshiper and only in the spirit of worship does he find release for all the powers of his amazing intellect. A religious writer has warned us that it may be fatal to trust to the squirrel-work of the industrious brain rather than to the piercing vision of the desirous heart. The Greek church father, Nicephorus, taught that we should learn to think with our heart. Force your mind to descend into the heart, he says, and to remain there. . . . When you thus enter into the place of the heart give thanks to God and, praising His mercy, keep always to this doing, and it will teach you things which in no other way will you ever learn. A religious mentality characterized by timidity and lack of moral courage has given us to a flabby Christianity, intellectually impoverished, dull, repetitious and to a great many persons just plain boring. This is peddled as the very faith of our fathers in direct lineal descent from Christ and the apostles. We spoon-feed this insipid p abulum to our inquiring youth and, to make it palatable, spice it up with carnal amusements filched from the unbelieving world. It is easier to entertain than to instruct, it is easier to follow degenerate public taste than to think for oneself, so too many of our evangelical leaders let their minds atrophy while they keep their fingers nimble operating religious gimmicks to bring in the curious crowds. Christianity must embrace the total personality and command every atom of the redeemed being. We cannot withhold our intellects from the blazing altar and still hope to preserve the true faith of Christ.

Copyright Statement This material is considered in the public domain.

[dailychapel]

Galatians 1:1–24 NLT - 1 This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead. 2 All the brothers and sisters here join me in sending this letter to the churches of Galatia. 3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 4 Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. 5 All glory to God forever and ever! Amen. 6 I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News 7 but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. 8 Let God's curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. 9 I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed. 10 Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant. 11 Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. 12 I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ. 13 You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion--how I violently persecuted God's church. I did my best to destroy it. 14 I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors. 15 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16 to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. 17 Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus. 18 Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. 19 The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord's brother. 20 I declare before God that what I am writing to you is not a lie. 21 After that visit I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And still the Christians in the churches in Judea didn't know me personally. 23 All they knew was that people were saying, "The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!" 24 And they praised God because of me.

Lord God Almighty, shaper and ruler of all creatures, we pray for your great mercy, that you guide us towards you, for we cannot find our way.

And guide us to your will, to the need of our soul, for we cannot do it ourselves. And make our mind steadfast in your will and aware of our soul’s need.

Strengthen us against the temptations of the devil, and remove from us all lust and every unrighteousness, and shield us against our foes, seen and unseen.

Teach us to do your will, that we may inwardly love you before all things with a pure mind. For you are our maker and our redeemer, our help, our comfort, our trust, our hope; praise and glory be to you now and forever.

[tpanan]

My Saturday Daily Blessings

February 4, 2023

Be still quiet your heart and mind, the LORD is here, loving you talking to you...........    

Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time (Roman Rite Calendar) Lectionary 328, Cycle A

First Reading: Hebrews 13:15-17,20-21

Brothers and sisters: Through Jesus, let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind. Obey your leaders and defer to them, for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account, that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow, for that would be of no advantage to you. May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the Blood of the eternal covenant, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23:1-3a,3b-4,5,6

"The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want."

Verse before the Gospel: John 10:27

R: Alleluia, Alleluia

"My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me."

R: Alleluia, Alleluia

**Gospel: Mark 6:30-34

The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." 

People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. 

So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

**Meditation:

What does the image of a shepherd tell us about God's care for us? Shepherding was one of the oldest of callings in Israel, even before farming, since the Chosen People had traveled from place to place, living in tents, and driving their flocks from one pasture to another. Looking after sheep was no easy calling. It required great skill and courage. Herds were often quite large, thousands or even ten thousands of sheep. The flocks spent a good part of the year in the open country. Watching over them required a great deal of attention and care.

Stray sheep must be brought back lest they die Sheep who strayed from the flock had to be sought out and brought back by the shepherd. Since hyenas, jackals, wolves, and even bear were common and fed on sheep, the shepherds often had to do battle with these wild and dangerous beasts. A shepherd literally had to put his life on the line in defending his sheep. Shepherds took turns watching the sheep at night to ward off any attackers. The sheep and their shepherds continually lived together. Their life was so intimately bound together that individual sheep, even when mixed with other flocks, could recognize the voice of their own shepherd and would come immediately when called by name.

God himself leads us like a good shepherd The Old Testament often spoke of God as shepherd of his people, Israel. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (Psalm 23:1). Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! (Psalm 80:1) We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3). The Messiah is also pictured as the shepherd of God's people: He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms (Isaiah 40:11).

Jesus told his disciples that he was the Good Shepherd who was willing to lay down his life for his sheep (Matthew 18:12, Luke 15:4, John 10). When he saw the multitude of people in need of protection and care, he was moved to respond with compassionate concern. His love was a personal love for each and every person who came to him in need.

Jesus is the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls Peter the apostle called Jesus the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls (1 Peter 2:25). Do you know the peace and security of a life freely submitted to Jesus, the Good Shepherd? In the person of the Lord Jesus we see the unceasing vigilance and patience of God's love. In our battle against sin and evil, Jesus is ever ready to give us help, strength, and refuge. Do you trust in his grace and help at all times?

Lord Jesus, you guard and protect us from all evil. Help me to stand firm in your word and to trust in your help in all circumstances. May I always find rest and refuge in the shelter of your presence.

Sources:  

Lectionary for Mass for use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, copyright (c) 2001, 1998, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm rerain (c) 1968, 1981, 1997, international committee on english in the liturgy, Inc All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

**Meditations may be freely reprinted and translated into other languages for non-profit use only. Please cite copyright and original source. Copyright 2021 Daily Scripture Readings and Meditation, dailyscripture.net author Don Schwager.

[catolinewsdailyreadings]

Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of Saturday, February 4, 2023

Reading 1

HEB 13:15-17, 20-21

Brothers and sisters: Through Jesus, let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.

Obey your leaders and defer to them, for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account, that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow, for that would be of no advantage to you.

May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the Blood of the eternal covenant,  furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6

R./ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose. Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. R./ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

He guides me in right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage. R./ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.   R./ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come. R./ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Gospel

MK 6:30-34

The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."  People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.

When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

[activatertvcode]

Where did this holy spirit activate come from

 Origin of Holy Spirit Activate

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are the available assets bequeathed upon believers in the Body of Christ since the beginning of time. Without the backing of these gifts, the church would not be functioning at the level of fullness of God's love and obedience toward His people.

This article provides a simple overview of our understanding of what we do with them when they're absent (or otherwise unavailable) from our lives. While it is still early days for this kind [sic] discussion, I hope that if anyone who wants the spiritual details can give me more concrete evidence than those presented here–whether direct or indirect–I will consider any changes necessary rather quickly and simply move forward on my goal of being baptized into Jesus' Church as soon ever possible!

This post originally appeared online on February 21st, 2012; last updated on November 14th, 2013.

Like all other things in the Christian life, the gifts of the Holy Spirit Activate also must be taught to be practiced. Basing his revelation of the foundational doctrine of the Apostle Paul on this teaching he states, "For no one will understand if he does not first ask and receive."(2 Timothy 1:13).

The gift as received is then handed down through a series that includes personal prayer (in which we pray for others' happiness), community learning, or fellowship with friends who are struggling by grace alone - an experience called Epiphany at Mass when our bodies fill with holy water even though they may need help from priests along their journey. (3) What I would like you to take away from these teachings is confidence but humility rather than arrogance because it's hard to have someone look up to your authority while so many believe in themselves.

Apostle Frequency Revelator further explores the divine truth that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not called up at the fancy of the vessel God chooses to use. Instead, they are a divine legitimate birth right irrevocably bequeathed upon every believer in Christ. In this book, Apostle Frequency Revelator dissects both the revelational and practical aspects of operating the gifts of the Holy Spirit, categorically synthesizing them into revelational gifts, vocal gifts, and power gifts.

The Gifts The New Testament is loaded with passages where it refers specifically or implicitly by name to those who receive anointing from high prophets (Revelation 21:3-7; Ephesians 2 1 - 3). One such passage comes immediately following these words which say "all prophecy shall come true" –a phrase repeated many times during Revelation as well: Genesis 9 Chapter 16. The such verse indicates that if you really want a proclamation about what will happen when one day Jesus answers your prayers then follow any revelation given pertaining explicitly—and unmistakenly—"to all Prophets". This scripture doesn't mean anything special outside its literal sense.

Definitions and explanations are given on each gift as well as elaborate explanations of the “how” of each operation. The reading of this book will therefore cause you to understand the call of God in your life so that you can flow in the dispensation of God’s grace upon your life. It will also assist you in terms of knowing the limits and boundaries of the operation of His gifts in your life. Ultimately, it will catapult your faith to the highest realms of the supernatural whereby you shall operate in all the gifts of the spirit for the empowerment, edification, and advancement of the Church. Presiding over a Global Network of Apostolic and Prophetic Visions, in the capacity of the C.E.O of Global Destiny Publishing House (Pty) Ltd, Director of the Global Apostolic & Prophetic Network (GAP), Founder of Resurrection Embassy (The Global Church), the Pioneer of Resurrection TV (The Dead-Raising Channel ) and the Principal of the renowned Global School of Signs and Wonders (GSSW) is Dr. Neilson Nettleman who has been dedicated from his early 20's to providing Bible prophecy through various ministries including Ministry of Salvation at ChristChurch.org/Teachings, Gospel Heritage.

Source:https://activatertvcode.blogspot.com/2023/01/where-did-this-holy-spirit-activate.html

#holy spirit activate #Where did this holy spirit activate come from #holy spirit activate shirt

[slavy77]

I can’t say that when I was younger I aspired to be a leader. In fact in high school I remember a time when a teacher had tried to talk me into putting my name in to be the president of a school club. I was already an officer, but even dropped that because I didn’t want the responsibility at that time.

I didn’t think of myself as a leader or maybe just didn’t see myself as one. I’ve always been a team player. It was about the team winning, not just me. My mindset was to make sure I gave everything I had.

As I got older, I was the organizer. I’d organize things like Duck Race buses, going to mud volleyball (pre-Beat Breast Cancer Mud Volleyball), outings with my friends. I didn’t see it as leadership, but also if I didn’t plan it, things didn’t seem to happen…or maybe I wasn’t invited. That could be the case too.

I found my first conscious leadership experience with the Beat Breast Cancer Mud Volleyball Tournament. I was the organizer, the initiator, the manager and the spokesperson. Not the only one in charge, just the point person.

As it grew, I took more and more responsibility. I became the leader. In this position I realized so many things. I realized that when you depend on volunteers you have to be careful how you treat them and what you have them do. You don’t just I’ve them the crap jobs. Often I took on the extra responsibilities or some of the nastier jobs. I wanted them to help and enjoy it, so I took the not-so-fun stuff. I didn’t realize it, but that was servant leadership.

Leaders who want all the power, who say that a task is “beneath them” or believe they should be treated special are not really leaders. They are more like a boss or manager. They have the power to enforce but usually are not liked or cared about by those that HAVE TO follow them.

Real leaders are doing things for the team. They communicate why a task is important. They often help with the hard work when they can. They want to see the team win, They want to see their people grow and enjoy the work. Servant leadership is about helping grow other leaders.

Ambition is in all of us, but for many it gets feathered by bad management. I believe we all strive for doing a good job and want to be acknowledged for doing good work, but for some…somewhere, some time, someone crushed that spirit and doubt piled on.

My goal in life is to be a servant leader. I hope someday that my career includes leading people. In that role I will help others grow and be the best they can be. I want to empower others. I want to turn the spot-light on them, not me (my wife just said “yeah right” after reading that). I want to help other people be more than they ever thought they could be.

Jesus picked 12 apostles. Many of them were average men, blue collar worker types. He taught them, empowered them and praised them when they did good. He corrected them when they needed it. His leadership led them to being the most historic men to ever walk the earth…and He washed their feet (if you don’t know what that means, open up the Bible my friend).

Servant leadership is about empowering others to do the best they can do and making the world around them a little better place. If you think about leaders in your life, why do you or don’t you follow them? If you are a leader…are you really a leader or just a boss?

#servant leadership #leadership #manager #management #successful management #Faith #Faith in God #Trust in God #Follow Jesus #Jesus leader

[piouscatholic]

[St. Bartholomew the Apostle Prayers]

#August24-FeastDay🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

[A Prayer to Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, for Grace]

O Glorious Saint Bartholomew, Jesus called you a person without guile and you saw in this word a sign that he was the Son of God and King of Israel.

Obtain for us the grace to be ever guileless and innocent as doves.

At the same time, help us to have your gift of faith to see the Divine hand in the events of daily life.

May we discern the signs of the times that lead to Jesus on earth and will eventually unite us to him forever in heaven. Amen.

[A Prayer to St. Bartholomew the Apostle, for Courage]

O Jesus, Saint Bartholomew's greatest desire was to know the truth.

When first informed about You, his initial reaction was,

"How can anything good come from Nazareth?"

But as soon as he met You, he wanted to become one of Your disciples.

You said of him,

"Here is a man in whom there is no deception."

I ask him to pray against the deceptions that are influencing me and the people I know.

Help us to experience Your affirmation when we are honest,

give us courage to resist lying as a means of self-protection, and inspire our minds to recognize the truth when we hear it.

Saint Bartholomew, pray for us. Amen.

[A Prayer to St. Bartholomew, for the Church]

O holy apostle, the Church prays for grace to love what thou didst believe and to preach what thou didst teach.

Not that the bride of the Son of God could ever fail either in faith or in love;

but she knows only too well that, though her Head is ever in the light, and her heart ever united to the Spouse in the holy Sprit who sanctifies her, nevertheless her several members, the particular churches of which she is composed, may Detach themselves from their center of life and wander away in darkness.

O thou who didst choose our west as the place of thy rest;

thou whose precious relics Rome glories in posses ding, bring back to Peter the nations thou didst evangelize; fulfill the now reviving hopes of universal union;

second the efforts made by the vicar of the Man-God to gather again under the shepherd’s crook those scattered flocks whose pastures have become parched by schism.

May thine own Armenia be the first to complete a return which she began long ago;

may she trust the mother-Church and no more follow the sowers of discord.

All being reunited, may we together enjoy the treasures of our concordant traditions, and go to God, even at the cost of being despoiled of all things, by course so grand and yet so simple taught us by thy example and by thy sublime theology.

#HeavenlyDivineCustomRosaryCom

[allsoulspriory]

Vision And Purpose

So I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told about everything that you have been designated to do.’ — Acts 22:10

Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. — Phil 3:12-14

When the Apostle Paul was suddenly brought into the presence of the Eternal, the whole course of his life was changed. In that flash of Light he saw the exalted Saviour, and learnt that he was antagonising the purposes of redeeming grace, and that vision altered the whole of his purposes and actions. From that great hour he forgot the things that were behind, and endeavoured to apprehend that for which he had been apprehended by Christ Jesus. It was his ambition to build his life on the pattern shown him on the mount.

Years after, as he reviewed his life-work, the churches he had founded, the cities he had evangelised, the epistles he had written, surely he might have reckoned that he had apprehended; but ever as he climbed, he envisaged heights beckoning beyond his attainments. Is not that the case with us, as we compare the vision of God’s purpose with what we have realised? Oh, give us back the years that have gone, that we may do better, be more accurate and successful in the transmission to living fact of those fair ideals, which called to us years ago! The vision in the sanctuary may never be perfectly realised by these bungling apprentice-hands. Yet God accepts and forgives the mistakes, as the mother accepts the cobbled stitches of her little girl who tries to help her with her sewing. “Not that we have already attained, or are already perfect, but we follow on,” and God forgives and accepts our poor patchwork!

What must we do to achieve our ideals? We must be more often in the sanctuary, in fellowship with Christ, to whose image we are to be conformed. With the Psalmist we must say: “Whom have I in heaven but Thee, and there is none on the earth that I desire beside Thee.” As we look on Him, we shall be changed into His likeness. As He is, so shall we become. Martyrs on the night before their agony; reformers hesitating at their tasks; scholars wondering whether their long self-denial was worth while; fathers and mothers; teachers and workers; preachers and missionaries, all these have stood in the sanctuary of God, until they have seen the vision and ideal. Then they have reckoned that what God had taught them to long for, He was prepared to enable them to effect. “All things are possible to him that believeth.”

Prayer

Grant unto me grace, O Lord, that I may both perceive and know what things I ought to do, and may also have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same. Amen.

#allsoulspriory #frjohnkelmy #paxabbey #thefellowshipcorner #dailywalk

[the-christian-walk]

FAIR EXCHANGE?

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to [email protected] In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

2 Corinthians 6:11-13

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Relationships are often transactional.

People elect government officials to represent them and in turn, those elected officials are expected to work in the best interest of those who put them in office.

A person interviews for a job and is hired. The new employee brings their skills and talents to bear to carry out the work they are asked to do and, in turn, the employer plays them a wage or salary for their services.

When it comes to interpersonal relationships, friend to friend or husband to wife in marriage, the transaction is typically centered on love. We all want to feel cared for and we choose to be around people that value us. Take love out of a relationship and the relationship doesn’t usually sustain.

We get a sense that the Apostle Paul is concerned about his relationship with the Corinthian church as we look at the two verses forming the base for today’s message. Look again at his words here:

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also. 2 Corinthians 6:11-13

Here we find Paul openly professing the love that he and his ministry counterparts had for the church in Corinth and the believers there. The missionaries had “opened wide” their hearts and never withheld their affection for their brothers and sisters in Christ but as we can see, there wasn’t a fair exchange happening, at least in Paul’s view. The transactional relationship was lacking transaction. It was only working in one direction.

And so Paul, speaking to the Corinthian Christians as if they were his children, asked for them to also “open wide” their hearts to him and those working with him. He hoped that the love and affection between the Jesus followers in Corinth and the missionaries would run both ways.

Does this happen to us today? Do we find ourselves in situations where we love and care for others but receive nothing in return?

I know I have been in these circumstances in more than one occasion. They are hurtful and frustrating.

So how do we deal with these relationships where love transaction is expected but not received?

Here are two key things the Lord has taught me through His holy word and Spirit:

First, he convicted me through the Holy Spirit.

Now you’re probably thinking, “Convicted and not encouraged?”

Trust me, it was conviction in its purest sense.

So what was the nature of the conviction?

It came by way of the Lord forcing me to face how I have handled my relationship with Him. He asked me if I had ever failed to show Him love when He was loving me. Of course, I was guilty as charged. I have never loved the Lord as well as He's loved me and frankly have taken Him for granted too many times. Way too many.

And yet, He has never ceased to love me, even when I wasn’t giving it to Him in return. In doing show, He has shown me how I need to respond to people who don’t return love to me after I give it to them. I am supposed to keep loving them anyways.

And this leads me to the scriptures and this single verse from Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, a verse that contains these three powerful words:

“Love never fails.” 13:8

God’s word is truth and when His word tells us love never fails then it won’t. The Lord is telling us through the scriptures to never give up. We’re to persevere in loving others even when that love isn’t returned. Yes, we are going to find ourselves in relationships that may fall short of being transactional when it comes to love but in those times we can look to our Lord and be reminded how we are to love others, without fail at all times.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to [email protected]